Former FBI agent Robert Levinson’s disappearance still unsolved as bureau presses for new tips

Nearly 2 decades aft erstwhile FBI cause Robert Levinson disappeared successful Iran, the FBI is renewing its entreaty for accusation arsenic colleagues and household members proceed pushing for answers astir 1 of the longest-running hostage cases involving an American.

FBI Director Kash Patel past week marked the day of Levinson’s disappearance portion recognizing Hostage and Wrongful Detainees Day, saying the bureau remains committed to uncovering retired what happened to him.

"Even astir 20 years later, Bob is connected our minds arsenic overmuch arsenic ever before," Patel said successful a connection posted connected societal media. The FBI continues to connection up to $5 cardinal for accusation starring to Levinson’s recovery, determination oregon return, successful summation to a State Department reward.

Levinson, a erstwhile FBI cause and Drug Enforcement Administration investigator, disappeared connected March 9, 2007, portion visiting Iran’s Kish Island successful the Persian Gulf. Levinson was the longest-held hostage successful U.S. history, and his household had fought for implicit a decennary for his harmless return, blaming the Iranian authorities for his seizure and imprisonment.

The FBI said it received this representation of Robert Levinson successful April 2011, 4 years aft his disappearance. (FBI)

ROBERT LEVINSON, RETIRED FBI AGENT, PRESUMED DEAD IN IRANIAN CUSTODY OVER A DECADE AFTER DISAPPEARANCE

In 2020, U.S. officials said they believed Levinson apt died successful Iranian custody, though his remains person ne'er been recovered.

For erstwhile FBI Assistant Director Chris Swecker, who worked alongside Levinson years earlier, the lawsuit remains personal.

"I met Bobby Levinson erstwhile I was transferred to Miami successful 1987," Swecker told Fox News Digital. "He was benignant of the iconic cause connected the squad due to the fact that helium was prolific successful processing cooperating cartel members and informants."

Swecker said Levinson had built a estimation wrong the bureau for his quality to cultivate sources wrong transgression organizations.

"He was a craftsman, a journeyman-level cause who knew what helium was doing and was bully astatine what helium was doing," Swecker said.

Levinson antecedently worked for the DEA earlier joining the FBI. Colleagues remembered him arsenic a seasoned tract researcher who preferred moving cases alternatively than moving into absorption roles.

Swecker described the 6-foot-3 cause arsenic some superior astir his enactment and profoundly devoted to his family.

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Levinson was 58 erstwhile helium traveled to Kish Island, Iran, successful 2007 moving arsenic a backstage investigator. He reportedly was taking portion successful an unauthorized CIA mission.

Upon his arrival, Levinson was said to have met with an American fugitive – Dawud Salahuddin – targeted by the CIA for recruitment, a root adjacent to the Levinson lawsuit told Fox News successful 2016.

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Salahuddin was wanted by the CIA for allegedly murdering an Iranian diplomat successful Maryland successful 1980, and Levinson hoped the ngo to present him to the bureau would secure him full-time employment with the CIA, the root told Fox News at the time.

Shortly afterward, Levinson disappeared, but Iran repeatedly denied capturing him oregon knowing of his whereabouts.

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"I yet work that helium had been hired connected declaration with the agency," helium said. "Just specified a hazard to spell to the land of Kish with his background."

Robert Levinson is shown successful this undated photograph provided by Christine Levinson. (AP Photo/Courtesy of Christine Levinson)

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Iran has agelong denied work for Levinson’s disappearance, though U.S. officials accidental grounds shows Iranian authorities detained him.

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The U.S. Treasury Department successful 2020 sanctioned 2 Iranian quality officials accused of engagement successful Levinson’s disappearance and cover-up.